Indicating means for gas valves



April 18, 1961 P. s. HARPER INDICATING MEANS FOR GAS VALVES Original Filed May 17, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. P 1 2 05067;

BY r W W,W 7

April 18, 1961 P. s. HARPER 2,

INDICATING MEANS FOR GAS VALVES Original Filed May 17, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

April 18, 1961 P. s. HARPER 2,980,134

INDICATING MEANS FOR GAS VALVES Original Filed May 17, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 LOW SIM/WEI? tate s Patent F v Patented Apr; '18, 1961- 2,980,134 INDICATING MEANS FOR GAS VALVES Philip S. Harper, Chicago, 111., assignor to Harper-Wyman Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Continuation of application Ser. No. 162,446, May 17, 1950. This application Nov. 2, 19 55, Ser. No. 544,484

14 Claims. c1. 137-456 The present invention relates to gas valves and more particularly to the provision of a new and improved position indicating and determining mechanism for use thereon. This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 162,446, filed May 17, 1950, now abandoned.

Considerable efiort has been expended in providing position indicating and determining mechanisms or click mechanisms as they are commonly called for use on gas valves. It is desirable to provide gas valves with mechanisms of this type which operate easily and satisfactorily to indicate to the housewife, or others, the position or positions into which a valve has been moved. For example, it is desirable to indicate and determine, say the low or perhaps even the high position of a socalled high-low valve by a click at either the low orthe high position. In the case of double valves, it is also desirable to indicate, say an intermediate position at which gas-is supplied only to the simmer section of a double burner which, in addition to the simmer burner section, includes a main burner section. It is therefore an .object of the present invention to provide a new and improved position indicating and determining mechanism particularly suited for gas'valves.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved position indicating and determining mechanism wherein the positions are indicated and determined by means producing an audible click and also restraining movement of the valve operating member at least in one direction. 7

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism as aforesaid which can be constructed I economically, readily assembled and will operate satisfactorily over long periods of time.

In brief, the position indicating and determining mechanism of the present invention includes a detent disc having a limited rotary lost motion connection with arotatable member, such as the valve stem, and a resilient detent disc follower element disposed adjacent the detent disc and cooperating therewith to move with a snap action when the detent disc is in a predetermined position, thereby to provide the audible indication. One or the other of the detent disc or the follower is provided with oppositely located relieved portions adapted to receive a portion of the other element, thereby to provide an audible indication when the two portions come into registry. The arrangement is furthermore such that restriction to motion is offered when the portions above mentioned are in registry. The elements may be alsoprovided with additional audible indication or motion resisting portions to indicate additional positions of the valve. Furthermore, the resilient element is so constructed and arranged relative to the detent disc that substantially opposite and substantially uniform radial forces are applied to the detent disc whereby no undesired or additional auxiliary forces are .placed on the valve element. The result is a uniform pressure holding the valve element in its operative position relative to 2 e the valve body. Furthermore, the resilient element is supported in what may be deemed a floating or movable manner, thereby to insure that the opposed forces will remain equal at all times to prevent any binding action.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuingdescription' of illustrative embodiments of the present invention, in the course of which reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which: l

Fig. l is a plan view, partly broken away,'of the present invention as applied to a gas'valve;

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; f

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken along the line 3-30: Fig. l; i p

Figs. 4 to 7 are transverse cross sectional views taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, illustrating the mechanism in different operative positions; I

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figs. 4 to 7, illustrating a different construction of the detent disc;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a transverse cross sectional view along a staggered line through the valve of Fig. 1 in its 'Ol'f position and looking toward the handle;

Fig. 11 is a flat development of the valve body and valve plug surfaces in the off position of the valve. 'By flat developments are meant the surfaces developed by rolling the conical surfaces of the valve chamber and plug upon a plane surface. The plug surface is shaded and the body surface 'is unshaded: i

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary axial cross sectional view with the valve in its low simmer position; and

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are flat-developments in the low simmer, full simmer and full on positions ofthe valve.

The present invention, as heretofore indicated, is applicable to valves in general, but has been illustrated in conjunction with a double valve of the same general construction as that disclosed and claimed in the copencling application of Charles C. Lamar, application Serial No. 709,466, filed November '13, 1946 (now Patent No. 2,632,469). The valve includes a valve body lfl having associated therewith a rotatable valve element, which may take the form, but not necessarily so, of a rotatable plug 12 mounted in a suitable chamber 14 within the bo dy The body has inlet passageway 15 (see Fig. 10) and a pair of outlet passages 16 and 18 which may lead through nozzle defining outlet hoods 20 and 22, respectively, and associated apparatus to the simmer and main burner sections of a double burner of knowncon'struction. The outlet passageway 18 is connected to the valve chamber by a transverse passageway 23. The plug 12 has an axial passageway 79 open to passageway 16and'apair of transverse passageways 72 and '74 aligned with the inlet passageway 15 and outlet passageway 23 in the full on-position. The plug also has a'low simmerpas} sageway 76 operative in the low simmer position and a carryover passageway 78 operative in a range between the full on and full simmer positions.

The rotatable valve element 12 is rnovableto various flow controlling positions by a valve operating stem 24 which may be and is illustrated as being directly or integrally connected tothe valve plug. An operating handle 26 is secured to the outer end of the valve stem. The valve plug is maintained in its seat under constant pressure by an axially extending helical spring 28disposed between the valve plug and aclosure element 30 of generally diamond shaped configuration and cup-like construction. Actually, the spring bears against a stop plate 32 interposed between it and the back of closure member 30, which may o-r rnay not have limited: relative angular movement with the stem 24. This stop plate is provided with a radial arm 34 (Figs. 4 to 7) engageable with stop burner.

The present invention pertains to the means for indicat ing and determining positions of the valve or its operating member, other than the off and full on positions. In the present instance the positions which are indicated are the low simmer and full simmer positions of the double valve.

As shown in Fig. 1, the cup-like closure element 30 is provided with a cover plate 37 which cooperates to form a housing in which the position indicating and determining mechanism is located, the members 30 and 37 being secured to a flat end surface of the valve body by suitable bolts 38. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the bottom wall 39 of the closure member 30 and the cover plate 37 are respectively provided with apertures 40 and 41 through which thevalve stem 24 extends, the valve stem having a D-shaped configuration in accordance with the usual pracrice, for receiving the handle 26.

The position indicating mechanism of the present inyention includes a disc-like member or detent disc 42 mounted within the housing formed by members 30 and 37 and having an aperture therein for receiving the valve stem 24. The detent disc 42 is free for axial movement along the valve stem 24 but is restrained against such axialmovement and guided for rotation with the valve stem .24 by suitable opposed protuberances or bearing surfaces 43 formed on the wall 39 of the closure member 30 and protuberances or bearing surfaces 44 formed on .the cover plate 37. These protuberances or bearing surfaces 43 and 44, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 9, are disposed closely adjacent the apertures through which the valve stem 24 extends.

, The stem receiving aperture in the detent disc 42 is shaped, as shown in Figs. 3 to 7, inclusive, to receive the valve stem 24 and to provide a limited lost motion connection therewith, it including the flat walls 45 (see Fig. 3) angularly disposed so as to provide the lost motion.

The detent disc 42 is shaped to provide a plurality of oppositely disposed peripheral portions 46 of maximum diameter, a plurality of oppositely disposed peripheral portions 47 of minimum diameter, and a plurality of oppositely disposed peripheral portions 48 having a diameter which gradually varies from the minimum diameter of the portions 47 to the maximum diameter of the portions 46. The oppositely disposed portions of different diameter are connected by abrupt rises 50, 51 and 52, so as to provide a detent disc having a plurality of relieved portions in the periphery thereof.

The indicating mechanism includes also a resilient follower member 53 mounted within the housing formed by members 30 and 37 and having the form of a hairpin spring with opposed arm portions 54 adapted resiliently to engage the periphery of the detent disc 42, the arm portions being connected by a return bend portion 55. Preferably the opposed arms 54 are provided adjacent their free ends with opposed inwardly extending portions 56 which engage the detent disc 42.

In accordance with the present invention, the follower element 53 is permitted to float or move a limited extent in the housing due to the fact that it is supported therein solely by engagement with properly disposed portions of the housing, there being no fixed pivot pin to which the element is secured. Thus, as shown in the drawings, the return bend portion 55 of the follower element 53 partly and quite closely encircles one of the bolts 38 (this being the left one, but it could be the right one) and is located between the bolt and the left hand end, as viewed in Figs. 4 to 7, of the cup-shaped closure member 30. The transverse or radial movement of follower member 53, as a whole, is limited by an indented portion 57 of the side wall of the closure member 30 that is located adjacent the outside of the return bend portion 55 of the follower. The construction is such though that the follower member, while secured on the valve body for position indication purposes, may adjust itself by movement about an axis located to one side of the stern so that the opposed radial forces exerted on the detent disc by the arms 54 will at all times be balanced. Furthermore, it will be noted that the portions 56 of the resilient arms 54 engage the detent disc in opposed diametrical relation and thus substantially opposite and uniform radial forces are applied to the detent disc and there is no force present tending to cause binding of the valve element in the valve body and, furthermore, no longitudinal forces exerted on the valve element. Movement of the follower member 53 axially of the valve stem 24 and the detent disc 22 is prevented by engagement of the follower member with the wall 39 of the closure member 30 and the top plate 37, it being noted that the arms 54 are spaced sufficiently so as to be outside the region of and thus to avoid the guide protuberances or bearing surfaces 43 and 44.

Referring now to the operation of the improved position indicating and determining mechanism, the mechanism is shown in Fig. 4 in a position corresponding to the off position of the valve shown in Figs. 10 and 11 and in which the inlet passageway 15 is closed. The arm 34 on the stop plate 32 is in engagement with the stop shoulder 35 and spring'arm portions 56 are in engagement with intermediate portions 48 of the detent disc. Assuming now that the valve stem 24 is turned in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 4 and 11 and clockwise in Fig. 10, for opening the valve, it will be observed in Fig. 4 that the portions 56 of the arms 54 move over the portions 48 of the detent disc 42 in a direction of gradually decreasing diameter so that a relatively slight resistance to movement of the valvt is encountered. It will, of course, be appreciated that before any movement of the detent disc is effected, the lost motion provided between the detent disc and the valve stem will be taken up and movement of the detent disc will not occur until after the valve stem has engaged a wall portion 45 of the detent disc.

As the counterclockwise movement of the detent disc and the valve stem continues, the portions 56 of the opposed arms 54 will be brought into engagement with the rises 50 between the peripheral portions 48 and 46 on the detent disc. Furthermovement of the detent disc and the valve stem can thus be accomplished only by camming the opposed arms 54 outwardly, which olfers some resistance to the turning movement and thus indi cates to the user that the valve has reached a first predetermined position, which in connection with the double valve shown in Fig. 1 may be the low simmer position, as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, in which a low quantity of gas is supplied to only the simmer outlet passageway 12 through the passageway 76 and the flow adjusting means 80 associated therewith. In Fig. 5 the mecha nism is shown after the arms 54 have been spread sufficiently to bring the portions 56 in contact with the maximum diameter portions 46 of the detent disc, whereby the arms 54 of the follower element 53 are cocked.

Continued movement of the detent disc and the valve stem will cause the rise 51 connecting the maximum and minimum diameter peripheral portions 46 and 47 to pass under the portions 56 of the arms 54 and by virtue of the lost motion connection a'sudden additional movement of the detent disc 42 relative to the valve stem 24 will occur. as will be apparent upon inspection of Figs. 5 and 6, and thus the arms 54 will snap inwardly to provide a sharp audible click when the portions 56 of the arms 54 engage in the relieved portion or notch formed by the rises 51 and 52 and the minimum diameter peripheral portion 47. This click may indicate to the user any predetermined position of the valve, but in the particular embodiment '5 shown is employed 'to indicate the full simmer position, illustrated in Fig. 14 in which a high quantity of gas is supplied only to the simmer outlet passageway, to which position the valve is usually initially turned, for automatic ignition purposes. 1.

Further counterclockwisemovement of the valve stem from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the full on position shown in Figs. 7 and is effective first to take up the lost motion between the valve stem and the detent disc and then to force the arms 54 outwardly by reason of their engagement with the variable radius portions 48 until arm 34 on the plate 32 engages the stop shoulder 36.

Upon reverse movement of the valve stem 24, i.e., in a clockwise direction from the full on position shown in Fig. 7, the arms 54 will be gradually moved outwardly by the variable radius portions 48 and will snap over the rise 52 again to indicate that the valve is in the full simmer position. Further clockwise movement will again force the arms outward to the cocked position shown in Fig. 5 and an audible click will occur when the rises 50 pass under the portions-'56, indicating that the mechanism is in the low simmer position. Continued clockwise movement of the valve stem and detent toward the full on position will encounter gradually increasing but slight resistance due to the. increasing radius of the portions 48 and thus the simmer burner may be closely adjusted or throttled between the low simmer and the off position shown in Fig. 4.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 8, a detent disc 60 is provided having a somewhat different peripheral configuration than the detent disc 42 of the previously described embodiment. The remaining portions of the mechanism are, however, unchanged and similar reference numerals have been employed to identify corresponding parts.

As shown, the detent disc 60 of Fig. 8 is provided with an aperture 61 for receiving the D-shaped valve stem 24. The aperture has flat wall portions 62 disposed at a somewhat greater angle relative to each other than the wall portions 45 of the detent disc 42 to provide a greater degree of lost motion between the detent disc 60 and the valve stem 24. The periphery of the detent disc 60 includes a pair of oppositely disposed minimum diameter portions 63, which are connected by oppositely disposed rises 64 and 65 to oppositely disposed maximum diameter portions 66.

Assuming that the mechanism shown in Fig. 8 is in the position corresponding to the off position of the valve, the stop arm 34 being shown in engagement with the stop shoulder 35, movement of the valve stem- 24 in a counterclockwise direction is effective first to take up the lost motion between detent 60 and stem. 24,- and then to move the detent disc 60 relative to the opposed arms 54 until the arm portions 56 snap over the rises 64 to provide a sharp audible click which indicates a predetermined desired intermediate position of the valve.

Further movement of the valve stem 24 after taking up the lost motion is ettective to bring the portions 56 of the arms 54 into engagement with the rises 65, whereupon resistance to further movement of the valve stem is exerted, thereby indicating a second predetermined intermediate position of the valve. After the arms 54 have been spread apart by the rises 65, counterclockwise movement of the valve stem may be continued until the stop arm 34 engages the stop shoulder 36, which is the limiting position to which the valve stem can be moved and may correspond to any suitable valve condition.

Upon return movement of the valve stem i.e., in a direction being the position shown in Fig. 8 in which the.

stop arm 34 engages the'stop shoulder3 5i a e-am 6 a It will thus be "seen that the present invention contemf plates an improved inexpensive and compact position determining and indicating mechanism which may be secured directly to the valve body and in which substan} tially opposite and uniform radial forces are applied to the detent disc, there being no undesired axial forces effective to vary the desired uniform pressure holding the 'valve element in the operative position relative to the valve body. Likewise, by reason of the full floating mounting of the follower member 53, theforces exerted on the detent element thereby are at all times equal and opposite, thus preventing any binding action on the detent disc or on the valve stem.

While the present invention has been described inconne'ction with the illustrated embodiments thereof it: should be understood that the details are not, intended to be limitative of the invention except insofar as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patentis: 1 p

1. In a valve structure including a stem-rotatable about an axis between positions corresponding to a plurality of flow .controlling positions, the combination of a position indicating and determining mechanism-comprising, a disc like detent member mounted for rotation about the stem axis by said stem, a unitary follower member having a central portion disposed to one side of the stem 'axisan'd opposed arm portions resiliently engaging opposed permiteral portions of said detent member, one ofsaid members having relieved portions therein disposed for engagement by the other of said membersto provide position indication during rotation of said stem, and means including stationary structure in proximity to and engageable with" said centralportion of said follower member defining an axis parallel to the axis of the stern relative to which the follower member has limited movement, thereby to provide a floating mounting for said follower member.

2. In a valve structure including astern rotatable about an axis between positions corresponding to a plurality of flow controlling positions, the combination of a position indicating and determining mechanism comprising, a de tent disc having oppositely disposed radial relieved per tions in the periphery thereof, means providinga lost motion connection between said stern and said disc for; effecting rotation of said disc by said stem while per mitting limited relative rotation therebetween, means in-f eluding a unitary uniplanar follower element'having'a: central portion disposed to one side of the stem axis and radially inwardly biased opposed arms resiliently engag ing opposed peripheral portions of said disc and cooperating with said relieved portions and said lost motion con-- nection to provide audible position indications as said stem is rotated, means including stationary structure in:

- proximity'to and engageable with said central portion of said element defining an axis parallel to the stem axis relat ive to which the follower member has limited movement, thereby to provide a floating mounting for said follower member, and means including structure engageable with said element for restraining said element against move ment axially of said disc.

3'. In a valve structure including a stem rotatable about} an axis between positions corresponding to a pluralityof flow controlling positions, the combination of a position indicating and determining mechanism comprising, a deventing movement of said spring axially of said disc, and means including stationary structure located inproximity to and freely engageable with said spring adjacent its central bight portion and defining an axis parallel to the axis of the stem relative to which the spring has limited movement, thereby movably to position said spring relative to said disc to effect balancing of the opposed radial forces exerted on the detent disc by the outer opposed arms.

4. In a valve structure including a valve body and an element rotatable about an axis into positions corresponding to a plurality of flow'controlling positions, the combination of a position indicating and determining mechanism comprising a housing including a pair of walls into which said rotatable element extends, a detent disc mounted on said rotatableelement within said housing for rotation therewith, said walls restraining said disc against axial movement and guiding said disc for rotation, a unitary uniplanar follower member in said housing restrained against axial movement by said walls, and means movably supporting said member in said housing for limited movement relative to said disc, said follower member including a central bight portion and radially biased opposed arms resiliently engaging opposed peripheralportions of said disc and cooperating therewith to provide position indications as said rotatable element is rotated, means for securingsaid housing to the valve body including a fastening elernent passing closely through the inner side of said central portion and defining an axis parallel to the axis of the rotatable element and relative to which the follower member has limited movement.

5. In a valve structure including avvalve body and an element rotatable into positions corresponding to a plurality of flow controlling positions, the combination of a position indicating and determining mechanism comprising, a housing including a pair of walls and secured to the valve body and into which said rotatable element extends, a detent disc mounted on said rotatable element within said housing for rotation therewith, inwardly extending protuberances on said walls engaging opposed faces of said disc to guide said disc, a follower member in said housing having radially biased opposed arms resiliently engaging opposed peripheral portions of said disc and cooperating therewith to provide position indications as said rotatable element is rotated, said arms engaging said housing walls outside the regions of said protuberances to restrain said follower member against axial movement, and means mounting said follower member for limited free movement in said housing about an axis located to one side of the rotatable element.

V 6. In a valve structure including a valve body and an element rotatable about an axis into positions indicative of a plurality of flow controlling positions, the combination of a position indicating and determining mechanism comprising, a housing including a pair of walls and secured to the valve body and into which said rotatable element extends, a detent disc mountedon said rotatable element within said housing for rotation therewith, said walls restraining said disc against axial movement and guiding said disc for rotation, a uniplanar hairpin type spring in said housing restrained against movement axially of said disc by said housing walls and having the radially biased opposed arms thereof engaging opposed peripheral portions of said disc and cooperating therewith to provide position indications as said rotatable element and disc are rotated, said spring including'a central bight portion displaced from the axis of said rotatable element and defined by relatively closely spaced inner arm portions, an element extending across said housing closely encircled by the inside of the bight portion of said spring and defining an axis about which the spring has limited movement, and a portion of the housing close to the outside of the bight portion for limiting the movement of said spring relative to the last mentioned axis.

7. 'In a valve structure including a stem rotatable about 8 an axis between positions corresponding to a plurality of flow controlling positions, the combination of a position indicating and determining mechanism comprising, a disc-like detent member, a unitary detent engaging member having a central portion disposed to one side of the detent member and opposed arm portions resiliently en.- gaging opposed portions of said detent member, means supporting said members for relative rotary movement upon rotation of the valve stem, one of said members having relieved portions therein disposed for engagement by the other of said members to provide position indication during rotation of said stem, and means supporting said central portion of the follower member for limited movement relative to an axis parallel to the stem axis, thereby to provide a free floating mounting for said follower memberwhereby the opposed forces resulting from engagement ofsaid arm portions with said detent member are balanced.

8; A valve for controlling the flow of gas to a burner comprising, a valve body having a valve chamber therein with inlet and outlet ports, a valve member turnable in the chamber, the body and valve member having ports relatively arranged so that in off position of the valve member the ports are closed and as the valve member is turned in one direction from oif position ports are successively opened at low position for a low rate of flow, and at a next position for a higher rate of flow of the gas, two members, biased into engagement with each other and of which one is a detent disc turnable with the valve member, the other of said members comprising a unitary follower member having a central portion disposed to one side of the axis of the turnable member and opposed arm portions resiliently biased against opposed peripheral portions of the detent disc, means including stationary structure in proximity to and engageable with said central portion defining an axis parallel to the axis of the tumable member relative to which the follower member has limited movement, thereby to provide a floating mounting for said follower member, a protrusion on the follower member, the detent disc having an area engaged by the protrusion when the valve member is in off position, an elongated inclined surface extending from the area and terminating at the base of a shoulder at low position, a recess beyond the shoulder at the said next position; the protrusion adapted to slide down the elongated inclined surface and to move over the shoulder silently as the valve member is turned from off position and to snap into the recess to give an audible indication at the said next position, said protrusion, when the valve member is turned in the opposite direction toward off position, adapted to snap over the shoulder and strike the surface at the base thereof to give an audible indication of the low position.

9. A double outlet valve for controlling the flow of gas to a double section burner comprising, a valve body having a valve chamber therein and an inlet port and an outlet port for each burner section, a valve member tumable in the chamber, the body and valve member having ports relatively arranged so that in off position of the valve member the ports are closed and as the valve member is turned in one direction from off position, ports are successively opened at low position for a low rate of flow, at intermediate position for intermediate rate of flow, and at full on position for full rate of flow of the gas, the off position being one extreme position and the full on position being the other extreme position, two members, one secured to the body and the other turnable with the valve member for movement relative to'the said one member, spring means urging the members into engagement, a protrusion on one of said members; the other of said members having an area engaged by the protrusion when the valve member is in off position, an elongated inclined surface extending from the area and terminating at the base'of a shoulder at the low position, a recess beyond the shoulder at the intermediate position'and a surface for engagement by the protrusion beyond the recess at full on position; the protrusion adapted to slide down the elongated inclined surface and to move over the shoulder silently as the valve memberis turned from off position, and to snap into the recess to give an audible indication at the intermediate position, said protrusion, when the valve member is turned toward the off position, adapted to snap over the shoulder and strike the surface atthe base thereof to give anaudible indication of the low position.

10. A valve for controlling the flow of gas to a burner comprising, a valve body having a valve chamber therein with inlet and outlet ports, a valve member turnable in the chamber, the body and valve member having ports relatively arranged so that in off position of the valve member the ports are closed and as the valve member is turned in one direction from off position ports are successively opened at low position for a low rate of flow insufficient to satisfactorily initiate ignition, and at a next position for a higher rate of flow of the gas sufficient to satisfactorily initiate ignition, and means for indicating position of the valve member relative to the body including resiliently engaged and relatively movable members, one on the body and another turnable with the valve for movement relative to said one member, a protrusion on one member; the other member having an area engaged by the protrusion when the valve member is in off position, an elongated inclined surface extending from the area and terminating at the base of a shoulder at low position, a recess beyond the shoulder at said next position, the protrusion adapted to slide down the elongated inclined surface and to move over the shoulder silently and to snap into the recess to give an audible indication at said next position when the valve member is turned in one direction from off position so that the issuing gas may be ignited, said protrusion, when the valve member is turned in the opposite direction toward off position, adapted to'snap over the shoulder to said base thereof to give an audible indication of the low position where the ignited gas remains ignited.

11. A valve for controlling the flow of gas to a burner comprising, a valve body having a valve chamber therein with inlet and outlet ports, a valve member turnable in the chamber, the body and valve member having ports relatively arranged so that in off position of the valve member the ports are closed and as the valve member is turned in one direction from off position ports are successively opened at low position for a low rate of flow, and at a next position for a higher rate of flow of the gas, and means for indicating the position of the valve member relative to the valve body comprising two resiliently engaged members, one of which is mounted on the valve body and the other of which is turnable with the valve member for movement relative to the said one member, a protrusion on one member, the other member having an area engaged by the protrusion when the valve member is in off position, an elongated inclined surface extending from the area and terminating at the base of a shoulder at low position, a recess beyond the shoulder at the said next position, the protrusion adapted to slide down the elongated inclined surface and to move over the shoulder silently as the valve member is turned from off position and to snap into the recess to give an audible indication at the said next position, said protrusion, when the valve member is turned in the opposite direction toward off position, adapted to snap over the shoulder and strike the surface at the base thereof to give an audible indication of the low position.

12. A double outlet valve for controlling the flow of gas to a double section burner comprising, a valve body having a valve chamber therein and an inlet port and an outlet port for each burner section, a valve member turnable in the chamber, the body and valve member protrusion adapted to slide down the elongated inclined having ports relatively arranged so that in on position of the valve member the ports are closed and as the valve member is turned in one direction from off position, ports are successively opened at low position for a low rate of flow, at intermediate position for intermediate rate of flow, and at full on position for full rate of flow of the gas, the off position being one extreme position and the full on position being the other extreme position, and means for indicating the position of the valve member relative to the valve body comprising two resiliently engaged members, one of which is mounted on the valve body and the other of which is turnable with the valve member for movement relative to the said one member, a protrusion on the second member; the first member having an area engaged by the protrusion when the valve member is in off position, an elongated inclined surface extending from the area and terminating at the base of a shoulder at the low position, a recess beyond the shoulder at the intermediate position and a surface for engagement by the protrusion beyond the recess at full on position; the protrusion adapted to slide down the elongated inclined surface and to .move over the shoulder silently as the valve member is turned from off position, and to snap into the'recess to give an audible indication at the intermediate position, said protrusion, when the valve member is turned toward the off position, adapted to snap over the sholder .and strike the surface at the base theerof to given an audible indication of the low position.

13. A valve for controlling the flow of gas to a burner comprising, a valve body having a valve chamber therein with inlet and outlet ports, a valve member turnable in the chamber, the body and valve member having ports relatively arranged so that in off position of the valve member the ports are closed and as the valve member is turned in one direction from off position ports are successively opened at low position for a low rate of flow, and at a next position for a higher rate of flow of the gas, two members, one secured to the body and the other turnable with the valve member and movable relative to said one member, spring means urging the members into engagement, a protrusion on one member; the other member having an area engaged by the protrusion when the valve member is in oif position, an elongated inclined surface extending from the area and terminating at the base of a shoulder at low position, a recess beyond the shoulder at the said next position, the

surface and to move over the shoulder silently as the valve member is turned from off position and to snap into the recess to give an audible indication at the said next position, said protrusion, when the valve member is turned in the opposite direction toward off position, adapted to snap over the shoulder and strike the surface at the base thereof to given an audible indication of the low position.

14. A valve for controlling the flow of gas to a burner comprising, a valve body having a valve chamber therein with inlet and outlet ports, a valve member turnable in the chamber, the body and valve member having ports relatively arranged so that in off position of the valve member the ports are closed and as the valve member is turned in one direction from off position ports are successively opened at low position for a low rate of flow insufficient to satisfactorily initiate ignition, and at a next position for a higher rate of flow of the gas sufiicient to satisfactorily initiate ignition, two members, one secured to the body and the other turnable with the valve member and movable relative to said one member, spring means urging the members into engagement, a protrusion on one member; the other member having an area engaged by the protrusion when the valve member is in off position, an elongated inclined surface extending from the area and terminating at the base of a shoulder at low position, a recessbeyond the shoulder at said next position, the protrusion adapted to slide down the elongated inclined surface and to move over the shoulder silently and to snap into the recess to give an audible indication at said next position when the valve 5 member is turned in one direction from off position so that the issuing gas may be ignited, said protrusion, when the valve member is turned in the opposite direction toward ofi position, adapted to snap over the shoulder to said base thereof to give an audible indication of the low 10 position where the ignited gas remains ignited.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

